Brake-beam.



% -No. 858'.457. v

L. HELLER.-

BRAKE BEAM. APPLICATION nunrms. 1a, 1007.

Enuentoz j ,zowgiiifeller PATENTED JULY 2, 1907; f

2 SHEETS-SHEBT -1.

' I No. 858.457.

PATENTED JULY 2, 1907- L. E. KELLER.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

BRAKE BEAM APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1907.

8" lf I om- 182222,

"195 in use:

117: noltm: PETERS to wuumarou, II. c.

UNIT D f STATES PATENT- OFFICE;

BRAKE-BEAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed February 12, 1907. Serial No. 356,995.

the construction of a single-piece brake beam, which is very simple and durable in structure.

Another object of the invention is the improvement of the construction of the shoe-frames and yoke-supporting head, cO-operating witha brake beam constructed in accordance with the present invention.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations,

and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter full described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brake beam constructed in accordance with the present invention, and showing a yoke and its supporting-head assembled with the brake beam. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of my brakebeam, and showing a pair of shoeframes and a yoke-supporting head positioned thereon. Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view of the brake beam taken on line 3, 3, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of the brake beam taken on line 4, 4, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary,jvertical sectional view of the yoke and its supporting, head. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectionalrview of another embodiment of the yoke and supporting head.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a hollow, single-piece brake beam, triangular in cross-section, which comprises a base portion 2, inclined walls 3, 3, and a single reinforcing rib 4. The inclined walls 3 converge toward their upper edges and terminate in the integral, longitudinally-extending reinforcing rib 4, which rib 4 is preferably of substantially the same thickness as the combined 3 thickness of the two walls 3, thereby greatly increasing the strength of the entire brake beam 1, making it practically impossible to bend or break the beam, as the walls 3 are greatly reinforced and strengthened at their integral edges, while the lower edges are integrally connected and braced by the base-portion 2 It will, therefore, be seen that the walls are provided with vertical, reinforcing means, to wit: the comparatively broad, single rib 4, and horizontal reinforcing means, to wit: the broad horizontal base portion 2. By reason of the vertical, reinforcing means 4 and the horizontal reinforcing means 2, myEsingle-piecaihollow brake beamlisgpracticaIIyQQnon-destructible, and consequently, of great strength, so as to provide for any vertical or horizontal strain thereon.

My hollow, single-piece brake beam is of the same dimensions throughout its entire length, thereby facilitating the adjustment and assembling of the shoeframes and the yoke-head thereon, as will be hereinafter pointed out. It is very desirable that the reinforcing rib 4 be of the thickness above mentioned, because, it not only greatly reinforces the entire structure, but it would be practically impossibleto have the rib of the same thickness as one of the walls, and, therefore, when constructing the brake beam, it is easy to form a comparatively thick reinforcing rib at the adjoining, integral edges of the walls or sides Each shoe-frame 5 is provided with a brake beam receiving-head 6, Fig. 3, which head 6 comprises a base portion 7 inclined walls 8, 8, terminating at their upper ends in vertical parallel walls 9, 9, which walls 9 are integrally connected by a horizontal top-portion 10. The inclined walls 8, 8 engage the outer face of the walls 3 of the brake beam, while the vertical parallel walls 9 of the head 6 engage the vertical sides of the reinforcing rib 4. The shoes-frames 5 can be quickly adjusted longitudinally upon the brake beam 1, and fixedly secured in an adjusted position, upon said brake beam, by any suitable fastening means, as for instance, bolts or rivets 11, which bolts or rivets 11 are passed through registering apertures formed in the single reinforcing rib 4 and the vertical, parallel walls 9 of the head 6 of the shoe-frames.

The yoke-supporting head 12 comprises a horizontal base 7, inclined walls or sides 8, terminating at their upper ends in vertical, parallel walls 9", 9 which upper walls 9 are integrally connected by a horizontal top-portion 10. It will be noted that the head 12 is similarly constructed to the heads 6, and is secured to the brake beam, preferably, in the same mariner. The head 12 can be quickly slid or adjusted longitudinally upon the brake beam, and secured in its adjusted position, owing to the brake beam being of the same construction throughout its entire length. A depending ring 13 is integral with the base portion 7 of the yokesupporting collar 12. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, the base 7 and the ring 13 are provided with a vertical aperture 14, which converges from its upper end to its lower end. A stem 15 is positioned within aperture 14, and said stem is of varying dimensions throughout its entire length, because it converges from its outer or upper end toward its inner or lower end, so as to fit snugly in aperture 14, to permit a free, rotary movement thereof. Yoke 16 is provided at its upper end with an aperture 17, within which is positioned the lower end of stem 15. Suitable fastening means, as for instance, a

pin or bolt, extends through the upper end of the yoke 16;and the lower end of stem 15. It will be obvious that registering apertures are formed in the sides of the yoke 16, and in the stem 15, within which said pin or bolt 18 is positioned. *lt-will,thereiore, be seen that the yoke 16' can be freely rotated, so that a lever can be placed therein, irrespective of whether the lever is actuated from the right or left side of the mechanism or car carrying-said. mechanism.

The embodiment depicted in Fig. 6 is of substantially the same structure as that depicted in Fig. 5, except that in this embodiment, the stem 15 is integral with the upper end of the yoke 16. The stem 15 converges from its upper end to its lower end, and is positioned within aperture 14 of the head12.

My single-piece'beam is of a very simple structure, and comparatively inexpensive to construct, and has many advantages over a sectionalbrake beam. Fur

thermore, a single-piece, triangular-shaped brake beam is superior to a sectional triangular brake beam in many instances, among which may be mentioned the fact that in a single-piece brake beam, the fastening means for securing the sections together are obviated. 'Furthermore, a single rib, constructed in accordance with my invention performs the same function as a'plurality of ribs in a sectional brake-beam, besides performing the function of the connecting and fastening means for the contiguous upper edges of the walls 3.

It willbe noted thatthe yoke-supporting head, in Fig. 1, is not positioned in its proper central position upon the brake beam 1, as'I have shown it off-center on the brake beam, for the purpose of not only illustrating the fact that, for convenience, it may be at any time, po-

sitioned at any point uponthe brakebeam, owing to the fact that the brake beam is of the same dimensions throughout its entire length, but also for the purpose of showing the central aperture of the reinforcing rib '4.

Thejyoke andhead, shown inFig. 6, are assembled in thefollowing manner: The stem 15 of the yoke is heated prior to inserting the same in the aperture 14,

and as the stem 15 is formed of greater length than the" aperture 14 the upper or outer end thereof projects between the sides 8 of the yoke, so that the extended end, while in its heated condition, can'be'hammered.

down, causing the-heated stem to fill the aperture l l, thereby producing the tapering structure.

Whilel'have described my beam asbeing particularly adapted tobe used in connection with a brake mechanism, and'have specified thebeam in the claims as a brake beam, it is 'to be understood that, owing to the peculiar structure 0i my beam, it is susceptible tobeing used in structural work for'buildings or as vehicle axles, or for any purpose in which a beam of my type maybe used.

What I claim is:

1. In a brake mechanism,the combination of a triangular-shaped brake beam provided with a reinforcingrib, and shoe-frames provided with heads positioned upon said brake-beam, the header each shoe-frame comprising a horizontal base, inclined walls integral with said base and converging toward their upper ends, said inclined walls terminating at their upper end in integral, vertical, parallebwalls, and a-horizontal top-portion connecting and integral with the upper ends of the vertical walls.

2. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a triangu- ..lar-'shaped brake beam provided with a singlereinforcing rib, a yoke-supporting head positioned upon said brakebeam, a yoke carried by said head, said yoke-supporting head comprising a horizontal base, inclined walls integral with said base and converging toward their upper end and terminating in integral, vertical, parallel walls, and a horizontal top-portion connecting and integral with the upper end of said vertical walls.

3. In a brake mechanism, theeombination with a brake beam, of ayoke-supporting head carried by said brake beam, said head provided with :1 base, a depending ring integral with said base, said base and ring provided with an apertureconverging from its upper end to its lower end, a stem positioned within said aperture, said stem eonverging from its upper end toward its lower end, and a yoke carried by said stem.

-1.'In a brake mechanism, the combination with a brake beam, of a yoke-supporting head carried by said brake beam, saidhead provided with a base, saidbase provided with an aperture tapering from its upper end to its lower end, a stem tapering from one end to its opposite end. pd sitioned within said aperture, a yoke, said stem extending throughthe upper end ofsaid yoke, and transverse fastening=moans extendingthrough the upper end of. said yoke andithe lower end of said stem and securing said yoke and stem together.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a hollow. singlepiece brake beam-of the same dimensions throughout its entire=length and comprising a base, inclined walls integral with said base 'and terminating at their upper edges in a single, integral reinforcing rib.

G. A hollow, single-piece brake beam, comprising a base. inclined walls integral with said base and converging toward their upper edges, and areinforciug rib integral with the upper edges 01 said walls and 01' greater thickness than each wall.

7, As a new article of manufacture, a hollow, singlepiece brake beam, triangularshaped in Qrosssection, and

provided with a single, reinforcing rib integral with a pinrality of its walls or sides.

8. "As a new article of manufacture, a singlepiece brake beam, triangular shaped in cross section, and provlded with a reinforcing ribintegral with a plurality of its walls.

9. A hollow, single-piece brake beam. comprising inclined walls connected at their lower ends by an integral, horizontal base, constituting horizontal, reinforcing means forsaid walls, and said walls integral at. their ends and terminating in a single, vertical rib, constituting vertical, reinforcing means for said walls.

10. A hollow single-piece brake beam of the same dimensions throughout its entire length, triangular-shapeil in 'crosssection, and provided with a longitudinally-exleud LOUIS ELYEMAE KELLER.

Witnesses:

Finn) N. STECK, JOHN M. MeGrLL. 

